Archives for May 21, 2019

* Blog Tour/ Release Blitz/ Review * SHOULDN’T HAVE YOU by Carrie Ann Ryan

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Blog Tour/ Release Blitz/ Review * SHOULDN’T HAVE YOU by Carrie Ann RyanShouldn't Have You by Carrie Ann Ryan
Series: Fractured Connections Book #2
Published by Carrie Ann Ryan on May 21, 2019
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four-half-stars

I've been many things in my life: daughter, friend, student, lover, wife…and now, widow. Getting past those labels and finding who I could be without them was the hardest thing I've ever done.
Then I became friends with Brendon Connolly.
Every time I look at him, I see a past, I see a present, and I’m afraid if I look too hard, I’ll see a future.

~~~

I've known Harmony Wynham since before she got married. Before she lost everything. I didn’t know that one day she wouldn’t be just my friend but the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
Only I don't think that can happen.
Not when every time she looks at me, she sees what she lost, and I can only see what I can't overcome.
I love her, even though I shouldn't. Somehow, we need to find a balance.
Because if we don't, walking away will be the hardest thing I've ever done—even if it's the only thing I should do.

 

An emotional journey of healing and finding love again after loss! With the second book in the Fractured Connections series, we get Harmony and Brendon’s stories. She lost the love of her life and has been trying to figure out who she is now that the person she was and the future she had planned has been shattered. He still suffers from the scars of his childhood, but is determined to bring his recently reunited family forward in their journey with the bar. They were friends who drifted apart and are now friends again at just the right moment when each of them needs a support system. Only when feelings start to become stronger than friendship, neither of them knows how to react. The characters were both very compelling and the story line was ripe with emotion, heartache, and that glorious road towards a new normal and a new happily ever after. I really enjoyed it and look forward to more in the series!

Harmony Wynham had her world pulled out from under her in the blink of an eye when she lost her husband to a freak accident at 25. He was the love of her life, her soul mate, the person she just knew she was going to be with forever … and then he was gone. She went through the motions like everyone expected her to, and now she’s to a point where she’s trying to figure out who she is without him.

Brendon Connolly was childhood friends with Harmony, then he was friends with her husband. He was there when her world ended. Now another tragedy brought them back into contact and it’s been great. They talk, they laugh, they enjoy each other’s company, they reminisce about Moyer … and then things start to change. How can he be feeling more than friendship with the past that they share? Is this allowed? Does she feel it too?

 

 

 

 

 

Title: Shouldn’t Have You
Series: Fractured Connections #2
Author: Carrie Ann Ryan
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 21, 2019
Blurb
I’ve been many things in my life: daughter, friend, student, lover, wife…and now, widow. Getting past those labels and finding who I could be without them was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.Then I became friends with Brendon Connolly.

Every time I look at him, I see a past, I see a present, and I’m afraid if I look too hard, I’ll see a future.

~~~

I’ve known Harmony Wynham since before she got married. Before she lost everything. I didn’t know that one day she wouldn’t be just my friend but the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

Only I don’t think that can happen.

Not when every time she looks at me, she sees what she lost, and I can only see what I can’t overcome.
I love her, even though I shouldn’t. Somehow, we need to find a balance.

Because if we don’t, walking away will be the hardest thing I’ve ever done—even if it’s the only thing I should do.

 

 

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
ALSO AVAILABLE IN AUDIO
Also Available
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Coming Soon
Releasing July 16, 2019
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Releasing January 28, 2020
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Author Bio
Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal, and young adult romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Fractured Connections, and Elements of Five series, which have sold over 3.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over seventy-five novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not losing herself in her emotional and action-packed worlds, she’s reading as much as she can while wrangling her clowder of cats who have more followers than she does.
Author Links
Giveaway

 

There is a giveaway to win a signed paperback of Breaking Without You by Carrie Ann Ryan
TO ENTER
Add ALL FOUR of the Fractured Connections series

 

 

Email your screenshot to Carrie at admin@carrieannryan.com
Giveaway for one winner, US only
Open until 11pm EDT on May 28, 2019
Void where prohibited
four-half-stars

* Review * THEIR BABY BLESSING by Heidi McCahan

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * THEIR BABY BLESSING by Heidi McCahanTheir Baby Blessing by Heidi McCahan
Published by Love Inspired on June 1, 2019
Buy on Amazon
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four-stars

The navy prepared him for anything…
except an instant family.

When navy veteran Gage Westbrook promised to look out for his late best friend’s son, he never imagined he’d bond with the baby boy. And he definitely didn’t plan to fall for Connor’s gorgeous temporary guardian, Skye Tomlinson. But weighted by guilt for the accident that took Connor’s dad, can Gage find the courage to forgive himself and embrace the chance at a family?

 

A sweet ready-made family romance! Adorable little Connor steals our hearts quickly as we watch the grown ups in his life strive to give him the best life possible. Skye isn’t sure she can trust Gage but circumstances leave her no option but to try. Gage is a good guy and sets out to win her over. I enjoyed their story!

Gage Westbrook is fresh out of the Navy and setting out to honor a promise he made to his best friend who didn’t make it home with him. Ryan has a son out there that he never got the honor of meeting, and Gage promised to be a part of his life. He’s finally tracked down where he is living, and has set up a meeting with his guardian. He hopes he won’t hit a roadblock in getting to know this little boy.

Skye Tomlinson has a chip on her shoulder from a past relationship, so she’s not sure she can trust this stranger that has all of a sudden contacted her with a story about knowing Connor’s father. Her cousin has left her in a pickle by leaving the baby in her care on top of caring for her recovering Mom, and the ailing family business, so in all honesty she can use all of the help she can get.

four-stars

* Review * HAVING THE SOLDIER’S BABY by Tara Taylor Quinn

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * HAVING THE SOLDIER’S BABY by Tara Taylor QuinnHaving the Soldier's Baby by Tara Taylor Quinn
Series: The Parent Portal
Published by Harlequin Special Edition on June 1, 2019
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four-half-stars

Back from the dead…

And back in her heart?

Emily and Winston Hannigan had a fairy-tale romance…until he perished for his country. So when Winston arrives on her doorstep very much alive, Emily’s overjoyed. Winston’s a changed man, though. He may have survived the unthinkable. But he believes he doesn’t deserve Emily—or their unborn child. And Winston’s secret shakes Emily to the core. But at that core is still love…

 

Gut-wrenching! She lost the love of her life, and just when she’s making a decision to move forward without him for the first time, he shows up at the door. The author brought a high level of empathy and emotion forward through Emily and while we sympathized with his plight, we had to dig deep to reach Win’s true self, but we eventually get there in a beautiful way. Really enjoyed their story!

Emily Hannigan was living the life that dreams are made up. Madly in love with her soldier husband and planning for the future, when one day she’s told that he’s missing in action and eventually declared dead. She felt like she was living someone else’s life for awhile, and eventually the numbness led to a life without Win. Just when she decides to continue their dreams without him, she’s overjoyed to hear that he’s still alive!

Winston Hannigan had to make a life altering choice … duty over love. He might be among the “living” again, but he’s not the same man he was before he co-existed with the enemy for years. He knows he can move on and pick up the pieces of his life again, but he also knows he doesn’t deserve the pure love that Emily has always showered upon him. All he has to do is wait out the time until she realizes she doesn’t want to be with the man he’s become …

four-half-stars

* Review * UNTOUCHED UNTIL HER ULTRA-RICH HUSBAND by Dani Collins

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * UNTOUCHED UNTIL HER ULTRA-RICH HUSBAND by Dani CollinsUntouched Until Her Ultra-Rich Husband by Dani Collins
Published by Harlequin Presents on June 1, 2019
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Goodreads
five-stars

The only woman to challenge him…

…is the only woman he’ll marry!

Multibillionaire Gabriel Dean is so outrageously wealthy that when computer genius Luli Cruz uses her skills to hold his inheritance to ransom, her audacity simply amuses him! Innocent Luli needs Gabriel’s help to avoid destitution. Gabriel’s solution? He’ll secure both their futures by marrying her! But sweeping wide-eyed Luli into his luxurious world, Gabriel discovers the chemistry with his untouched wife is priceless…

 

Very unique back story! It’s not unusual to find a virginal bride in a Harlequin Presents plot, but the past of this heroine made her even more innocent and easy to take into a reader’s heart. She’s feisty when she needs to be, but beneath the front, she’s a wide-eyed youth just learning the way of the world. I really enjoyed watching him take her under his wing and their affection for each other grow into a red-hot love affair!

Gabriel Dean receives correspondence that his grandmother is dying and heads to Singapore to get her affairs in order. Upon arrival, he finds that her assistant is a waif of a young lady who has handled the day to day workings of his grandmother’s fortune with the utmost of care and is now locking him out of having access until she gets her demands met. He finds her amusing and agrees to play her little game temporarily!

Lucrecia Cruz knows she has no other option than to make sure her place in this world is secure or she’ll disappear into nothingness. She doesn’t really want to harm Gabriel or his grandmother’s memory, but she sees no other option than the one she’s taking. Gabriel on the other-hand has a plan all of his own … she will return with him to New York and become his bride!

five-stars